Lara hits back with brilliant century

Brian Lara scored a superb unbeaten century and shared in a 183-run partnership with captain Jimmy Adams to rescue West Indies on the first day of the Third Test against Australia in Adelaide today.

Lara, who only declared himself fit on the eve of the match, finished on 136 not out after a trademark innings including 21 fours and one six.

The touring side, already 2-0 down in the series, were 274 for four at the close of play.

The fourth-wicket pair joined forces at 86 for three and thrived until Adams was dismissed for 49 seven minutes before stumps.

Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie claimed all four wickets for 56 runs.

He bowled Daren Ganga for 23 and trapped Sherwin Campbell leg before for 18 in the first session, then added the scalp of Wavell Hinds for 27 after lunch before removing Adams.

Lara had almost missed the match because of a hamstring strain but showed few signs of discomfort.

The 31-year-old's previous Test scores in this series were 0, 4, 0 and 17 but he signalled his return to form with a double-century in last weekend's victory against Australia A.

Lara was struck on the helmet by a Glenn McGrath bouncer shortly after arriving at the crease and played and missed several times before things suddenly clicked into place.

He cracked three fours in a row off Gillespie, then did the same to McGrath to reach his half-century off 90 balls.

The left-hander had a let-off on 73 when he was dropped by Mark Waugh at slip off Stuart McGill but did not offer another chance as he reached his 15th Test century - his sixth against Australia - an hour after tea.

Lara reached three figures off 140 balls, with his second 50 coming off only 60 deliveries, raising his bat in triumph and tipping his helmet.

With Lara in full flight, Adams was content to play a more patient role, batting for 191 minutes and facing 165 balls before he edged Gillespie behind to Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist.

Meanwhile, the Australian Cricket Board said today they doubt the ability of Australia's courts to prosecute a cricketer involved in match fixing.

ACB public relations general manager Brendan McClements also told a South Australian state parliamentary committee there appeared to be little action that could be taken against corrupt bookmakers.

McClements believed that should an Australian player be linked to a match-fixing scandal similar to that involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje there would be a community expectation of criminal prosecution. But he said legal advice given to the ACB indicated it would be difficult for such an action to succeed.

McClements said the fact that gambling was legislated on by seven different states and territories complicated the issue.

"There's no simple way, should someone, in Australia, do what Hansie's done, to prosecute them in a criminal sense," McClements said.

"We can prosecute them within the sport but whether we can prosecute them in a broader sense I'm not sure."

McClements also said bookmakers involved in match-fixing may escape prosecution both from within the sport and outside it.

Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, 35, was mentioned by bookmaker Mukesh Gupta in India's Central Bureau of Investigation report into match-fixing.